Haaland's debut headlines opening weekend of Premier League season

Arsenal's trip to Crystal Palace lifts the curtain on the new Premier League season on Friday, with Erling Haaland's debut in the English top flight the highlight of the weekend as champions Manchester City travel to West Ham.

Haaland has been the marquee arrival to the Premier League from over £1 billion ($1.2 billion) spent on transfer fees ahead of the new campaign.

The Norwegian is expected to further strengthen Pep Guardiola's side, who have won the title in four of the last five seasons.

However, Haaland and City's season did not get off to a good start as perennial title rivals Liverpool won the Community Shield 3-1 last weekend.

A trip to the London Stadium is a good early season test of City's revamped squad with Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips also coming in to replace the departed Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

West Ham nearly denied City the title last season as they led 2-0 at half-time in the penultimate game of the campaign before the visitors rallied to salvage the point which won them the league.

The Hammers have also strengthened with the signing of Italian international striker Gianluca Scamacca as David Moyes' men look to close the gap on the top four after qualifying for Europe in the past two seasons.

"We know what the standard is and we will reach the standards as quickly as possible and maintain what we have done always," said Guardiola.

"I don't feel, because we know each other well, that we are far, far away.

"But the games against West Ham and after Bournemouth will dictate our level and what we have to do."

Chelsea 'not ready'

Chelsea's visit to Everton on Saturday pits together two sides who have reason to fear the season ahead at different ends of the table.

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